Detachable heel for shoes

ABSTRACT

A heel for shoes having detachable main body, intermediate portion and base portion held into the innersole by a depending threaded member and upward positioned member engageable with the threaded portion.

O Unlted States Patent 1 [111 3,782,010 Frattallone Jan. 1, 1974 DETACHABLE HEEL FOR SHOES 2,910,788 11/1959 Dorvie 36/34 A 1 1 Inventor: Michele mun-M1199 vellaw 1133???? Z133? 222.if..fi'.1131:.......::;::::::611352134; W2 W f g g Guelfa, 3 Firenle, 1,715,588 6/1929 Bowen .1 36/42 ta y FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1221 F116: 1970 655,050 7/1963 Italy 36 42 77 59 569,411 11/1957 Italy 36/34 A [2]] Appl No 599,104 /1959 Italy 36/42 401,749 5/1966 Switzerland 36/42 Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 3, 1969 Italy 4798 A/69 Primary ExaminerAlfred R. Guest Attorney-Joseph Zallen [52] US. Cl. 36/42 [51] Int. Cl A43b 21/36 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 36/42, 34 A A heel for Shoes having detachable main body intep mediate portion and base portion held into the inner- [56] References Clted sole by 21 depending threaded member and upward po- UNITED STATES PATENTS sitioned member engageable with the threaded por- 1,371,339 3/1921 Arntz et a1 36/42 tiOn. 1,378,261 5/1921 MencareIIi 36/42 1,409,431 3/1922 Twarogowski.... 36/42 3 Claims, 13 Drawmg 1,996,659 4/1935 Staines 36/42 3a. 4 A 24 22 5 121 I 1O 7 1 \N \Q\ 20 14 E. :6 36 P z PATENTEUJAN 1 12m sum 1 or 2 6 7 b M B DETACHABLE HEEL FOR SHOES DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Myinvention herein described is concerned with a new method of attaching and constructing heels for footwear. In the best known varieties of heels, the shape of theheel of the foot is reproduced by means of an impression on the surface, and the heels are then put in place on the shaped shoe sole or inner sole. The heel in reproducing the impression conventionally called seat follows a logical measurement proportionate to the purpose of achieving the junction with the back part of the shoe and respective sole and inner sole, which is generally attached by one of the suitable methods, with glue and'nails or with glue and screws. Conventional heels in general use, shaped all in one piece or made up of two elements, with their upper and lower sections, in practice appear to be a single whole, with a separatelyatta'ched or possibly incorporated top piece or heel cap. Suchheels, therefore, with the conventional method of constructing them and attaching them to shoes, did not solve the problem of interchangeability in order to obtain new lines, colors, different seat angles and means of replacing the element most subject to wear, all necessary improvements for a better and more effective presentation of footwear. The speciality of this heel with regard to the method of construction and application to the sole of the shoe consists in the @fact that it, although made up of two main elements,

besides allowing these two elements to be joined very easily, achieves the goal of interchangeability both of the lower part of the heel and of the upper part or seat. With this invention of mine concerning a new method of attaching and constructing an INTERCHANGE- ABLE HEEL FOR SHOES, ATTACHED TO THE SOLE OR INNER SOLE, BY MEANS OF A SPECIAL SCREW, WITH THE POSSIBLITY OF JOINING UP AT THE SAMETIME THE SECOND PART OF THE HEEL WHICHIS ALSO INTERCHANGEABLE, the various combinations will allow a better utilization for the purposes of industrial production, simplicity and practicality -in'the solution of the various problems mentioned.

The first object of my invention is toconstitute the heel of the shoe, made up ofa main body, in which will be inserted a special screwfrom the outside towards the inside ofthe saidmain body in such aposition as to allow the fixing-of the upper section'or seat to the sole or inner sole of the shoe and at the sametime to achieve its attachment to the second part of the heel, a portion of which isthe top pieceprotected'by an external trimming. The two parts which in fact constitute the heel may be of any type of material (wood, iron, aluminum, brass,'copper, plastic, etc.)-provided that at the meeting point the established measurements are respected.

The second object of my invention is that there shall be an exact junction and connection at the meeting point between the first and second parts of the heel, so that the elements appear to constitute a single whole for each particular model or line, both seat and support, which although continuing with a different form with respect to the first part of the heel or main body must correspond entirely in its measurements, so that once the said two parts are united they will complete each other in a particular harmonious form.

The third object of my invention concerns (of the two main parts of the heel) the first part; for example, an elongated or wedge seat, although continuing in a different form with respect to the second part of the heel or lower section, could also not meet exactly at the point of junction and nevertheless achieve the purposes of the model.

The fourth object of my invention is that the second part of the heel or lower section, at the meeting point, i.e., where it comes in direct contact with the main body of the heel, shall have an internal surface with a certain inclination corresponding to that of the internal surface of the other part. Besides, a shaped pin which is an incorporated part of the said lower section will be fitted into'a slot in the lower surface of the said main body for the purpose of ensuring a firm connection and avoiding any possible rotation from the second part of the heel. In the lower section on the outer lower surface is a hole in a concentric position to allow the insertion of the small cylindrical bolt to create a screw in connection with the special screw which is in line with the hole in the second part of the heel.

The fifth object of my invention is that on the outer surface of the main body known as seat, of measurement from 34 and 41 (in the case of heels for women's footwear) and from 39 to 46 (in the case of mens footwear), three small pegs shall be provided, incorporated in the seat, arranged in a triangle at three set points to fit into the corresponding three slots or holes of the whole series in the sole or inner sole of the shoe.

The sixth object of my invention is that there shall be provided on the inner surface known as heel or posterior part of the sole or inner sole, although for purposes of measurement proportional, three slots or holes of lesser diameter, arranged in a triangle based on measurement, adjustable for the whole series and corresponding to the various measurements, and besides a hole of greater diameter placed in a concentric position; in the said three slots or holes will be fitted the three pegs incorporated in the main body of the upper surface of the said first part of the heel or seat, while in the concentric hole there could lodge also a hexagonal tubular ring which according to the inclinatiOn of the said seat would hold the head of the special screw.

The seventh object of my invention is that a special screw consisting of three elements can easily achieve firm joining between the seat and the posterior part of the sole or inner sole of the shoe, by means of a small bolt with external lateral tongues, besides achieving the fixing of'the second part of the heel by means of an internally threaded cylindrical bolt with external head for locking.

The eighth object of my invention is that a special screw consisting of two elements which fit into the inside of the heel and another external element which is coupled with the first two elements shall, once they are screwed together, besides ensuring adhesion between the sole or inner sole and the seat and the lower section, allow for the purposes of industrial production the following advantages:

A. the elimination of conventional methods of attaching heels;

B. the elimination of glue, nails and screws;

C. the elimination of the heel-attaching machine;

D. the achievement with a simple operation of easy attachment of the seat to or separation of the seat from the sole or inner sole of the shoe;

E. ease in achieving the separation of the two main elements which make up the said heel;

F. the possibility of achieving at any moment the replacement of a certain type of heel, if it should show any defect, or be of a different color, line and model, even if the shoe has reached the last stage of assembly, thus avoiding any complaints for defects in the heels;

6. reduction in the cost of the assembly stage for each single pair of heels.

The ninth object of my invention is that by following the said new method of construction and attachment other combinations may be obtained to the sole advantage of consumers, e.g.,

l. a quick and easy replacement of the first part of the heel or seat, and also for the second part of the heel or lower section, which can be performed in both cases by the consumer himself;

2. heels with the two main parts (seat and support), moulded in the most diverse lines, forms and colors, bound in skin, leather and plastic, will be placed on the market so that the user can buy them directly at a cheap price;

3. at the moment of replacing the second part of the heel with a new part, the consumer, besides having the possibility of choosing the color and the line of the second part of the heel, can also by means of possible replacement of the seat at the same time substantially modify the height of the heel which was originally attached to the shoe.

Lastly, the tenth object of my invention is that the said new method of attachment can be adapted to heels for womens, mens and childrens footwear, and for all heights. The elements which as a single whole constitute the invention under discussion, realized, described and illustrated with regard to a preferred form, can assume other shapes and measurements and have variations in the single details of construction without, however, going beyond the scope of the invention and therefore of the control of this patent.

The invention will be illustrated with reference to the drawings shown in the plates, in which are illustrated some forms as examples of a preferred form of execution.

FIG. 1 represents a general view of a heel for women's footwear with the elements assembled;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 with the difference that the heel is attached to the inner sole;

FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 2 but the same elements are seen in cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view starting from line 250-250 in relation to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view from above of the outer protective trimming of the incorporated top piece portion;

FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 5, but seen in crosssection;

FIG. 7 is a view from above of the inner lower surface relative to the outer protective trimming;

FIG. 8 is a view from above of the seat of the heel;

FIG. 9 is the same as FIG. 8 but with the posterior part of the inner sole added;

FIG. 10 is a view from above of the first primary element of the special screw with the shaped head and with the threaded end portion;

FIG. 11 is a view from above of the small cylindrical bolt or secondary element;

FIG. 12 is a view from above of the hexagonal tubular ring or auxiliary element with slightly inclined upper portion;

FIG. 13 is a view from above of the bolt second primary element with two external side tongues.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2 and 3 is the construction of the interchangeable heel for shoes, attached to the sole or inner sole, by means ofa special screw, with the possibility of joining up at the same time the second part of the heel, also interchangeable, consisting of a main body 1 and a special screw A with a shaped head 1, with a cylindrical portion 2 and with a threaded end portion 3 which fits into the concentric hole 4, in the inner sole 6, in its turn protected by a hexagonal tubular ring or auxiliary element 8 with projecting circular upper portion 8a by which it rests on the corresponding perimetral surface of the inner sole 6; while the hexagonal tubular upper portion 8 is lodged in the slot or concentric hole 4 in the said inner sole 6, the lower part lodges in the concentric hexagonal slot 10 in the first part of the heel or seat 1 with the cylindrical portion of the non-threaded 2 special screws A which passes through the perpendicular hole 12 in the said seat 1 projecting on the outside with its threaded end portion 3, to stop at a certain depth. A the same time a small bolt or second primary element 14 with two lateral tongues 14a and 14b, internally threaded 140, with a flat circular upper surface 16, screwing from below upwards, the said surface 16, coming into contact with the lower outer circular surface 18 of the incorporated circular platform 20, also flat, in stopping will ensure to the special screw A firm connection to the upper part of the heel or seat 1. On the outer upper surface of the main body are three small pegs 22-24 and 26 arranged in a triangle and projecting from below upwards, which being incorporated in the said main body 1, fit into the corresponding slots 27-28 and 30 in the said inner sole 6 to ensure the connection of the main body I to the said inner sole 6. On the inner lower surface of the said main body 1 a shaped slot 32 will allow the insertion of the pin 36, incorporated in the second part of the heel 2 which is to be fitted. A concentric hole 12 extends from below upwards entering into communication with the others opening of greater diameter 4, extending to the outside. In the second part of the heel 2 on the upper surface there projects from below upwards a pin 36, on the lower internal surface 38 aligned to the hole 12, in the seat 1, a concentric hole 40 extending from above downwards entering into communication with another slot 42 of greater diameter extending to the outside, in whose slot will fit the head 44 of the small cylindrical bolt 46 with partially threaded internal circular opening 48 to allow screwing together with the threaded portion 3 of the special screw A; these elements once screwed together, besides achieving a solid joining of the two main pieces 1 and 2 which compose the said heel and being both detachable elements can be replaced at any moment, will also by means of the said special screw A and the pin 36 incorporated in the second part of the heel 2 avoid any possible swivelling. In the second part of the heel 2 beginning at 50 is an outer circular opening 42, which extends from below upwards entering into direct communication with another concentric hole of lesser diameter 40 extending to the outside of surface 38. In the second part of the heel 2 a shaped opening extends on the inside from above downwards to stop at a certain depth 38. The

shaped pin 36 extends from above downwards stopping at a flat shaped surface 34 with the lowest part 52 and the highest part 54 for the purpose of obtaining particular grades of inclination parallel to the inclination of the seat 1 with the attached inner sole 6. The concentric hole 40 in the second part of the heel 2 is aligned with the opening 12 in the circular platform with the flat surface 18, incorporated in the first part of the heel or main body 1, while the threaded end portion 3 of the special screw A will be inserted in a concentric perpendicular position to allow the screwing in of the internal part 48 of the small cylindrical bolt 46 with the said threaded end portion 3 of the special screw A. The protective trimming 3, attached to the outside of the incorporated top piece portion 50, is fixed with little pegs or pins 56-58 which will fit into the respective slots 60-62, placed on the internal perimeter 50 of the lower surface of the second part of the heel 2, the said perimeter following the same shaping as the second part of the heel 2, with aflat external face 64 and the internal face 66 of the trimming 3, also flat, with an inner surface 70 covering all the outer lower surfaces of the top piece portion 50 incorporated in the second part of the heel 2 and the lower outer surface 72 of the second part of the heel 2, adhering perfectly to the face 64, and with the internal face 66 of the said trimming 3 on the lower outer surface 70 of the trimming 3 and on the surface 72 of the second part of the heel 2 and on the surface 76 of the protective trimming 3; a circular opening 74 placed in concentric position aligned to the opening 40 in the lower surface of the second part of the heel 2, which is of slightly greater diameter, besides ensuring solid joining reinforces the top piece portion incorporated 50 in the second part of the heel 2.

The main body I and the second part of the heel 2 are generally moulded in plastic material, the special screw A consisting either of two or three elements should if possible be made of steel or aluminum, while the protective trimming 3 attached to the outside of the top piece portion incorporated in the second part ofthe heel 2 should preferably be moulded in plastic material containing a high percentage of rubbery material, so as to obtain non-slip characteristics and of course greater soundlessness during use.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, is a view from above of the protective trimming 3 attached to the outside of the second part of the heel 2, with slight diagonal knurling 76 and an opening 74 in direct communication with the other opening 42 of lesser diameter in which fits the head 44 and respective groove 78 of the small cylindrical bolt 46.

As shown in FIG. 7 is a view from above of the protective trimming 3 to be attached to the outside of the top piece portion incorporated in the second part of the heel 2, with four little pegs 56-58 and 55-57; the two pegs 56 and 58 are incorporated in the upper inner surface 68, the other two pegs 55 and 57 are partially incorporated with the perimetral surface 76 and with the inner surface 68 of the protective trimming 3, and the said four little pegs fit into the respective slots previously illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As illustrated in FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of the protective trimming 3 with two pegs 56 and 58 incorporated in the surface 68 and the peg 57 partially incorporated with the surface relative to the face of the internal perimeter 66 and inner upper surface 68 of the said protective trimming 3.

As shown in FIG. 8 is a view from above of the upper surface of the main body 1 or seat, with the three little pegs 22-24 and 26 arranged in a triangle, with the hexagonal shaped opening or slot 10 to receive the head of the special screw A. As illustrated in FIG. 9 is a view from above of the inner sole 6 closed to the seat of the heel 1, with the respective slots 27-28 and 30, into which fit the three little pegs 22-24 and 26 of the main body 1, with the tubular ring 8, with a circular projecting surface 8a, of hexagonal shape and lodged in the central slot or hole 4, which in its turn receives and grips the head with transverse cut 10 of the special screw A; the dotted line outlines the upper surface of the main body 1, which is not visible because already closed to the inner sole 6. As shown in FIG. 10 is a view from above of the first primary element of the special screw A, with transverse cut la, placed in an external position on thesurface of the hexagonal shaped head 1, with a cylindrical portion 2 and a treaded end portion 3. As shown in FIG. 11 is a view from above of the small cylindrical bolt 46 with a partially threaded internal circular opening 48, as shown in the previous FIG. 3, with head having transverse cut 78. As shown in FIG. 12 is a view from above of the hexagonal tubular ring 8, with perimetal projection 8a, with slight inclination from point -82. As shown in FIG. 13 is a view of the small bolt 14, internally threaded Me, as shown in FIG. 3, with two side tongues 14a and 14b incorporated in the body of the said bolt 14.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a heel for shoes characterized in that it is attachable and detachable from the shoe and has portions detachable from one another, said heel comprising an upper body portion 1, intermediate body portion 2, base portion 3, fastening member A having a threaded portion and a head portion, threaded nut means 14 and means 46 having a threaded socket; the head of said fastening member A seating in the innersole of the shoe; said nut means 14 engaging the threaded portion of the fastening member A and said upper body portion 1 so as to hold the upper body portion 1 against the shoe; the threaded socket of said means 46 engaging the end of said threaded portion of fastening member A and the lower end of said intermediate body portion 2 so as to secure said intermediate body portion 2 to upper body portion 1; projections 56 on said end portion 3 detachably mounting said end portion 3 on said intermediate portion 2.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the upper body portion 1 has projections 22, 24, 26 on its upper end and retaining means 8 positionable on the innersole of the shoe for detachable mounting on the innersole.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said upper body portion 1 has a lower slot 32 and said intermediate portion 2 has a lip 36, said lip registering in said slot upon the assembly of body portion 1 and 2. 

1. As a new article of manufacture, a heel for shoes characterized in that it is attachable and detachable from the shoe and has portions detachable from one another, said heel comprising an upper body portion 1, intermediate body portion 2, base porTion 3, fastening member A having a threaded portion and a head portion, threaded nut means 14 and means 46 having a threaded socket; the head of said fastening member A seating in the innersole of the shoe; said nut means 14 engaging the threaded portion of the fastening member A and said upper body portion 1 so as to hold the upper body portion 1 against the shoe; the threaded socket of said means 46 engaging the end of said threaded portion of fastening member A and the lower end of said intermediate body portion 2 so as to secure said intermediate body portion 2 to upper body portion 1; projections 56 on said end portion 3 detachably mounting said end portion 3 on said intermediate portion
 2. 2. The article of claim 1 wherein the upper body portion 1 has projections 22, 24, 26 on its upper end and retaining means 8 positionable on the innersole of the shoe for detachable mounting on the innersole.
 3. The article of claim 1 wherein said upper body portion 1 has a lower slot 32 and said intermediate portion 2 has a lip 36, said lip registering in said slot upon the assembly of body portion 1 and
 2. 